Protected birds of prey like the Golden Eagle continue to be illegally shot, trapped and poisoned in Scotland.
A new report by the RSPB, published on November 15, showed there were 108 confirmed incidents of bird of prey persecution throughout the UK. The animals are protected by law in the UK.
The Birdcrime study shows that in the last year, more than two thirds of all such incidents were linked to land managed for gamebird shooting. In Aberdeenshire, a poisoned golden eagle was found lying next to a dead hare laced with a deadly banned pesticide on a grouse shooting estate at the Cairngorms National Park.
A minimum of 68 golden eagles have been illegally killed in Scotland since 1981, with the vast majority being poisoned.
New data for the past year showed three hen harriers, all from a small breeding population in southern Scotland, had also disappeared, sparking fears they were illegally killed.
The abuse of newer and more toxic rat poisons to target birds of prey is also said to be becoming a big concern. It poses a danger not only for the birds of prey but for also other wildlife.
The RSPB has branded the findings 'depressing' but welcomed the Scottish Government's bid to tackle bird of prey crime by introducing a licensing scheme for driven grouse shooting.
It comes after the Scottish Government revealed in October that they are considering a new approach, administered by NatureScot, that will mean that the shooting of grouse will only be permitted if the landowner has a licence.
Ian Thomson, RSPB Scotland Head of Investigations, said: “Year after year the patterns of crimes against birds of prey are depressingly consistent. Scotland’s raptors are being shot, poisoned, trapped, or their nesting attempts destroyed, where land is intensively managed for driven grouse shooting. We are also seeing satellite-tagged birds disappearing in suspicious circumstances.
"While we have commended steps taken by successive Scottish governments, Police Scotland and NatureScot to try tackle this issue, we have long argued that until the grouse shooting industry was regulated, these crimes will continue. This is clearly borne out by the figures we are publishing today. With this in mind, we warmly welcome grouse moor licensing being part of the Scottish Government’s current legislative programme and look forward to contributing positively to its progress.”
Beccy Speight, RSPB chief executive, said: “The evidence shows that the illegal persecution of birds of prey - which is time and time again linked to gamebird shooting - is holding back the recovery of some key species. This year’s Birdcrime report is another reminder of the appalling methods deployed by some, and why there is a need for swift and effective change in our countryside.”
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